Previous Year Questions 2024: English | English for CLAT PDF Download

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and choose the best answer.
In the realm of contemporary literature, the interplay between character and setting is a nuanced dance that shapes the narrative’s essence. the setting, often described with painstaking detail, becomes more than a backdrop; it becomes a character, influencing the plot and character development.
Consider, for instance, the barren expanse of the desert in Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake. the arid landscape mirrors the sense of isolation felt by the protagonist, Gogol, as he navigates his identity crisis in a foreign land. the relentless sun and vast sands are not mere descriptions; they are the silent witnesses to his inner turmoil.
On the other end of the literary spectrum, there is Arundhati roy’s The God of Small Things. the lush, vibrant Kerala backwaters are not just the setting; they are a character woven into the fabric of the story. The teeming, humid landscape reflects the complex web of human relationships and secrets that unravel in the narrative. This interplay is not confined to contemporary literature alone. in Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy Macbeth, the eerie and foreboding setting of the Scottish moors casts a dark shadow over the characters’ actions. the moors, shrouded in mist and mystery, serve as an ever-present omen of the impending tragedy. 

Q1: In contemporary literature, how is the relationship between character and setting described in the passage?
(a) It is non-existent; characters and settings are entirely separate entities.
(b) It is a complex interplay where the setting influences the plot and character development.
(c) Characters and settings are interchangeable.
(d) Settings are insignificant in contemporary literature.
Ans: (b)
Sol: The first sentence of the passage, "In the realm of contemporary literature, the interplay between character and setting is a nuanced dance that shapes the narrative’s essence" establishes the relationship between character and setting in contemporary literature.
Considering the example of the barren expanse of the desert in Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake, or the lush, vibrant Kerala backwaters in Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things, they highlight the plot (reflecting the complex web of human relationships) and the character (the sense of isolation felt by the protagonist, Gogol, as he navigates his identity crisis in a foreign land).
Option (a) is contradictory; it states that the relationship between character and setting is non-existent. The interchangeability of character and setting is out of scope, making option (c) incorrect. Option (d) rules out the relationship between character and setting as insignificant in contemporary literature, so it is inappropriate. Therefore, option (b) is the most appropriate option.

Q2: In the novel The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, what does the barren desert landscape symbolize?
(a) A thriving community.
(b) The protagonist’s sense of isolation and identity crisis.
(c) A lush, vibrant setting.
(d) A happy, carefree life.
Ans: (b)
Sol: The second paragraph makes it clear that the barren expanse of the desert in Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake “mirrors the sense of isolation felt by the protagonist, Gogol, as he navigates his identity crisis in a foreign land.” Therefore, option (b) is the most appropriate option. Other options are irrelevant.

Q3: What role does the Scottish moors play in Shakespeare’s Macbeth?
(a) It serves as a beautiful, serene landscape.
(b) It has no influence on the characters’ actions.
(c) It is an ever-present omen of impending tragedy.
(d) It is a place for the characters to relax.
Ans: (c)
Sol: The last paragraph highlights that Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy Macbeth echoes “the eerie and foreboding setting of the Scottish moors” which casts a dark shadow over the characters’ actions. Therefore, option (c) aptly captures the answer – The Scottish moors in Shakespeare’s Macbeth are an ever-present omen of impending tragedy.

Q4: What does the term “interplay” refer to in the context of the passage?
(a) A lack of interaction between characters and setting.
(b) A complex relationship where the setting influences the narrative.
(c) An insignificant connection between characters and setting.
(d) A complete separation of characters and setting.
Ans: (b)
Sol: The term “interplay” means “the way in which two or more things have an effect on each other.” In other words, it refers to the interaction between two elements. By elimination, phrases like “lack of interaction,” “insignificant connection,” and “complete separation” are ruled out. The phrase that affirms the interaction between characters and setting is option (b).
Furthermore, the passage clearly establishes the intermingling of character and setting that shapes the narrative’s essence.

Q5: Which of the following words best describes the setting in The God of Small Things?
(a) Boring.
(b) Lush and vibrant.
(c) Insignificant.
(d) Dark and foreboding.
Ans: (b)
Sol: The mention of the “lush, vibrant Kerala backwaters” as depicted in Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things makes it clear that “lush and vibrant” is the correct phrase to describe the setting in The God of Small Things.

Q6: What is the main theme discussed in the passage?
(a) The characters in contemporary literature are not influenced by their settings.
(b) Setting in literature is unimportant.
(c) In literature, settings can be as influential as characters in shaping the narrative.
(d) Settings have no role in character development.
Ans: (c)
Sol: The answer can be approached by the process of elimination. All options except (c) imply the insignificance of setting and characters in the unfolding of a narrative. Only option (c) justifiably claims that settings can be as influential as characters in shaping the narrative. This is exemplified through the barren expanse of the desert in Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake, the lush, vibrant Kerala backwaters in Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things, and Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy Macbeth. Thus, the main theme discussed in the passage is: in literature, settings can be as influential as characters in shaping the narrative.

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and choose the best answer.
The crisis of justice that is the subject matter of discussion in the media today is in fact the crisis of “justice for the middle class”. the main difference between india and the OeCd (Organisation for economic Cooperation and development) countries is that whereas the middle class in these countries has reasonable access to justice, in india it does not. 
A vocal and powerful middle class has emerged in india since 1991. it is demanding reasonable access to justice. much of the judicial reform effort will help meet this demand…   the question of justice for the poor is, however, an altogether different challenge. No country in the world has been able to secure justice for the poor. most of the jails of the richest countries are filled with the poorest. The “masses” are more often victims of the criminal justice system than of crime. 
In India as well, jails are almost exclusively filled with the poor. the civil justice system is hardly accessible to them. they are often victimised by lawyers, touts and court staff. they are docket-excluded, a new type of untouchability. the language and the logic—and the colonial and feudal culture—of the judicial system are alien to them. it rarely takes cognisance of their needs and interests.   their main concern, therefore, is to escape the attention of the justice system, criminal and civil. A landless dalit person in the interior of madhya Pradesh once gave me an insightful definition of a court from the perspective of the masses: “A court is a place where you are forcibly taken by the police to be punished; no one goes to a court.” in contrast, many lawyers and judges colloquially define a court as “a temple of justice where rights are protected”. these sharply divergent visions mean that justice for one section is often injustice for another. Protecting the livelihood of traditional taxi and auto drivers from predatory pricing by corporate app-based taxi providers by imaginatively using the available tools of law to delay their incursion would be seen by the rich and by sections of the middle class as a failure of the judicial system, and possibly as also resulting in a downgrading of the “ease of doing business” measure. 
However, the masses would see such a judicial intervention as strong evidence of a good justice system. Although the conflict over competing visions of the nation and conflicting demands from social and economic segments have confined judicial reform of judicial administration mainly to “neutral” areas such as process reform, procedural law, technology, planning and court and case management, judge strength, and the workload of judges, there has been considerable improvement in these areas, and the judicial system has improved its performance. 
[extracted, with edits, from “Justice and the two ideas of india”, by G. mohan Gopal, Frontline]

Q7: What is the central thesis of the above extract?
(a) The practice of untouchability takes various forms in modern India.
(b) The imagination of justice for the rich and poor is vastly different.
(c) Addressing judge strength and case-load management does not affect the performance of the judicial system.
(d) Protecting the livelihood of traditional taxi drivers is contrary to the goals of ease of doing business.
Ans: (b)
Sol: Option (a) is incorrect because nowhere in the passage is the practice of untouchability discussed. The perception of court as “a place where you are forcibly taken by the police to be punished” is held by the common masses (the poor). In contrast, many lawyers and judges (representing the rich) colloquially define a court as “a temple of justice where rights are protected.” The line “these sharply divergent visions means that justice for one section is often injustice for another” confirms the divergent notions of justice. Similarly, the example of the livelihood of traditional taxi and auto drivers illustrates the conflict over competing visions of the nation. Therefore, the central thesis of the extract is option (b).
Option (d) is true but is used as an example to validate a broader issue – the difference in the imagination of justice for the rich and poor. In the same vein, option (c) is irrelevant to the theme of the passage.

Q8: What does the author mean by ‘docket-excluded’ in the second paragraph?
(a) The poor do not have easy access to the justice system.
(b) Courts do not list bail petitions of poor undertrial prisoners who populate the country’s jails.
(c) The poor reject the judicial system as being alien to their language and logic.
(d) The rich are excluded from the country’s prisons, which are mostly populated by the poor.
Ans: (a)
Sol: ‘Docket’ implies the list of legal cases to be heard by a court. So, if a certain section of society is forbidden from getting their cases registered in the court, it leads to their exclusion. This is what the writer refers to as ‘a new type of untouchability,’ which includes exclusionary activities against them. Option (b) only caters to bail petitions of poor undertrial prisoners, which is out of scope. Option (c) provides the reason behind the exclusion as their language and logic, which is unwarranted. Similarly, option (d) talks of exclusion from the country’s prisons.

Q9: Which of the following words best describes the experience of different segments of people with the justice system as described in the third paragraph?
(a) Symbiotic
(b) Affective
(c) Conflicting
(d) Inter-dependent
Ans: (c)
Sol: The perception of court being ‘a place where you are forcibly taken by the police to be punished’ is held by the common mass (poor). In contrast, many lawyers and judges (embodying the rich) colloquially define a court as “a temple of justice where rights are protected.” The line ‘these sharply divergent visions mean that justice for one section is often injustice for another’ clearly confirms the conflicting notions of justice.

Q10: Which of the following statements is the author most likely to agree with?
(a) The judicial system reflects the same power relationships as those that exist in society.
(b) Access to the judicial system is determined more by a person’s economic status such as wealth and income, than by their social status, such as religion and caste.
(c) The judicial system was made by the rich, for the rich, of the rich.
(d) None of the above.
Ans: (a)
Sol: The statement ‘No country in the world has been able to secure justice for the poor. Most of the jails of the richest countries are filled with the poorest.’ Courts are a temple of justice only for the rich, but for the poor, it does not hold the same status. The poor are denied easy access to the justice system. In a nutshell, the judicial system reflects the same power relationships as those that exist in society. The judicial system only attends to the rich. The statement ‘the judicial system was made by the rich, for the rich, of the rich’ is unjustified. Option (b) is incorrect because caste is indeed a determining factor in getting access to the judicial system.

Q11: Which of the following statements is the author most likely to disagree with?
(a) A truly representative democracy would ensure that the interests of the poor are also represented in the judicial system.
(b) The Law ensures equality both in text and in practice.
(c) The poor suffer most at the hands of lawyers and touts, compared to judges who might still pronounce judgments in their favour from time to time.
(d) All of the above.
Ans: (b)
Sol: The option stating that a truly representative democracy would ensure that the interests of the poor are also represented in the judicial system is a fact that cannot be determined from the passage. The opinion that ‘the poor suffer most at the hands of lawyers and touts, compared to judges who might still pronounce judgments in their favour from time to time’ cannot be affirmed from the passage. The reason behind the writer’s angst is that the law that guarantees equal access to the judicial system willfully denies the right to the poor.
Therefore, the author is most likely to disagree with option (b).

Q12: What makes reform of judicial administration a ‘neutral’ area?
(a) Persons across socio-economic strata agree on the need to reform judicial administration.
(b) There is consensus among political parties across the ideological and regional spectrum on reforms to judicial administration.
(c) Reforms to judicial administration do not favour one class of people over another.
(d) Reform of judicial administration is mandated by the Constitution, and thus lies beyond political considerations.
Ans: (c)
Sol: The writer states that despite having contending visions of the nation and conflicting demands from social and economic segments, these challenges have curbed the disparities to a neutral zone, and this area has shown considerable improvement. Thus, it can be inferred that reforms to judicial administration do not favour one class of people over another, irrespective of social and economic strata. So, option (c) captures the essence. Other options cannot be justified.

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and choose the best answer.
Everything she wanted was here, at Carignano, in Kasauli. Here, on the ridge of the mountain, in this quiet house. it was the place, and the time of life, that she had wanted and prepared for all her life-as she realized on the first day at Carignano, with a great, cool flowering of relief - and at last she had it. She wanted no one and nothing else. Whatever else came, or happened here, would be an unwelcome intrusion and distraction. This she tried to convey to the plodding postman with a cold and piercing stare from the height of the ridge onto his honest bull back. unfortunately, he did not look up at her on the hilltop but stared stolidly down at the dust piling onto his shoes as he plodded on. A bullock-man, an oafish ox, she thought bitterly. She stepped backwards into the garden and the wind suddenly billowed up and threw the pine branches about as though to curtain her. She was grey, tall and thin and her silk sari made a sweeping, shivering sound and she fancied she could merge with the pine trees and be mistaken for one. To be a tree, no more and no less, was all she was prepared to undertake.
What pleased and satisfied her so, here at Carignano, was its barrenness. This was the chief virtue of all Kasauli of course-its starkness. it had rocks, it had pines, it had light and air. in every direction there was a sweeping view - to the north, of the mountains, to the south, of the plains. Occasionally an eagle swam through this clear unobstructed mass of light and air, that was all. And Carignano, her home on the ridge, had no more than that. Why should it? the sun shone on its white walls. its windows were open the ones facing north opened on to the blue waves of the Himalayas flowing out and up to the line of ice and snow sketched upon the sky, while those that faced south looked down the plunging cliff to the plain stretching out, flat and sere to the blurred horizon.
Yes, there were some apricot trees close to the house. there were clumps of iris that had finished blooming. There was the kitchen with a wing of smoke lifting out of its chimney and a stack of wood outside its door. But these were incidental, almost unimportant.
[extracted, with edits and revisions, from “Fire on the Mountain” by Anita Desai]

Q13: What does the protagonist’s preference for “barrenness” and “starkness” at Carignano suggest about her personality?
(a) She enjoys a bustling and vibrant environment.
(b) She values simplicity and minimalism in her surroundings.
(c) She prefers lush and colorful landscapes.
(d) She seeks constant stimulation and variety in her life.
Ans: (b)
Sol: The passage states: ‘What pleased and satisfied her so, here at Carignano, was its barrenness. This was the chief virtue of all Kasauli of course—its starkness.’ The reason she loved her stay at Carignano, in Kasauli, was its simplicity. The fact of being enclosed with nothing but rocks, pines, light, and air connotes its minimalistic appeal. The phrase ‘bustling and vibrant environment’ contradicts the feel of the place. The phrase ‘lush and colourful landscapes’ does not attribute to ‘barrenness.’ While option (d) cannot be inferred. Therefore, the protagonist’s preference for “barrenness” and “starkness” at Carignano suggests that she values simplicity and minimalism in her surroundings.

Q14: What do you get to know about the protagonist’s state of mind from her reaction towards the postman?
(a) She feels grateful for his presence and the assistance he offers.
(b) She dislikes any disturbance or interruption in her solitude.
(c) She feels suspicious and is interested in the lives of others.
(d) She is disinterested and generally unaffected by the presence of others.
Ans: (b)
Sol: It is to be noted that the writer, at the very first, clarifies that ‘Everything she wanted was here, at Carignano, in Kasauli.’ Additionally, ‘She wanted no one and nothing else. Whatever else came, or happened here, would be an unwelcome intrusion and distraction.’ This attitude got manifested at the appearance of the plodding postman. He was met with a cold and piercing stare from the height of the ridge onto his honest bull back. Therefore, the protagonist’s state of mind from her reaction towards the postman demonstrates that she dislikes any disturbance or interruption in her solitude.

Q15: What does the protagonist’s desire to be mistaken for a pine tree reveal about her mindset?
(a) She desires to be appreciated and noticed by others in society.
(b) She has a deep admiration for the beauty of the pine trees.
(c) She feels a sense of superiority over other living beings.
(d) She yearns to be one with nature and escapes from her human identity.
Ans: (d)
Sol: The statement: ‘She fancied she could merge with the pine trees and be mistaken for one. To be a tree, no more and no less, was all she was prepared to undertake’ validates the protagonist’s innermost yearnings to be one with nature and escape from her human identity. Neither does it confirm her desires to be appreciated and noticed by others in society nor does it confirm her sense of superiority over other living beings.

Q16: The protagonist’s description of the nestlings’ screams as “shrill and maddening” shows that:
(a) She perceives the sounds to be out of tune yet soothing.
(b) She considers the nestlings to be symbols of new life and vitality.
(c) She finds the nestlings to be vexatious and irritating.
(d) She feels a sense of protectiveness and care towards the nestlings.
Ans: (c)
Sol: As evinced in the statements ‘Everything she wanted was here, at Carignano, in Kasauli,’ ‘She wanted no one and nothing else. Whatever else came, or happened here, would be an unwelcome intrusion and distraction,’ the protagonist has confined herself into this place for seeking solitude and being at one with nature. The shrieks and screams of nestlings will therefore be considered as “shrill and maddening” because she finds the nestlings to be vexatious and irritating. Other options reverberate the positive outlook towards these nestlings, hence they are eliminated.

Q17: Which of the following statements are true about the protagonist’s overall state of mind in Carignano?
Statement I: She experienced a sense of constant restlessness and anguish.
Statement II: She felt isolated and disconnected from her environment.
Statement III: She was content, fulfilled, and at peace with her surroundings.
(a) Statement I and II
(b) Statement II and III
(c) Only Statement II
(d) Only Statement III
Ans: (a)
Sol: The reason behind the protagonist’s lodging at Carignano, in Kasauli, was solely decided by the aloofness and solitude of the place, where nature encompasses from all directions. Statement I that she experienced a sense of constant restlessness and anguish is incorrect, as this may be the reason for choosing such a place. While Statement II that she felt isolated and disconnected from her environment contradicts the gist of the extract. The way she enjoyed being with nature and her desire to be mistaken for a pine tree demonstrate that she was content, fulfilled, and at peace with her surroundings.

Q18: In the light of the above passage, what role does nature play in the protagonist’s life at Carignano?
(a) It provides her with a source of creativity.
(b) It offers her solace, peace, and a sense of belonging.
(c) It serves as a reminder of the harsh realities of life.
(d) It serves as a constant source of distraction and intrusion for her.
Ans: (b)
Sol: The reason behind the protagonist’s lodging at Carignano, in Kasauli, was solely decided by the aloofness and solitude of the place, where nature encompasses from all directions. ‘It was the place, and the time of life, that she had wanted and prepared for all her life.’ She seeks solace from the solitude of the place. Her desire to be mistaken for a pine tree evinces her sense of belonging. So, option (b) is correct. There is no mention or implication of a source of creativity. Options (c) and (d) are at conflict with the reason for her nesting at Carignano, in Kasauli.

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and choose the best answer.
English literature is a vast and diverse field that has left an indelible mark on the world of letters. From the eloquent plays of William Shakespeare to the complex novels of Jane Austen and the profound poetry of William Wordsworth, English literature offers a window into the human experience. One of the luminaries of English literature is William Shakespeare, often hailed as the greatest playwright in the history of English language. His works, including Hamlet, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet, are celebrated for their exploration of human nature, love, ambition, and tragedy. His characters, such as the tormented Hamlet and the star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet, continue to captivate readers and audiences worldwide.
The 19th century ushered in a new era of literary giants. Jane Austen’s novels, such as Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, provide incisive social commentary through the lens of wit and romance. Austen’s heroines, like Elizabeth Bennet and Elinor Dashwood, remain beloved literary figures known for their intelligence and resilience. The Romantic era brought forth poets like William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who celebrated the beauty of nature and the emotional intensity of the individual. Wordsworth’s ‘‘i Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’’ and Coleridge’s ‘‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’’ are testament to the power of the written words to evoke profound emotions and imagery. Moving towards 20th century, English literature continued to evolve. Virginia Woolf’s ground-breaking novel Mrs. Dalloway explored the inner thoughts and lives of its characters with a modernist narrative style. Dystopian visions, as seen in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four provided stark warnings about the dangers of totalitarianism and the erosion of individual freedom. 
Today, English literature is a global phenomenon, transcending borders and languages. indian authors like Arundhati Roy, with her novel The God of Small Things, have won prestigious international literary awards. The book not only explores intricate family dynamics but also delves into the broader socio-political landscape of india. in summary, English literature is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the written word. it encompasses an array of authors, themes, and styles that continue to captivate and inspire readers across the world.

Q19: Who is often regarded as the greatest playwright in the history of English language?
(a) Jane Austen
(b) William Wordsworth
(c) William Shakespeare
(d) George Orwell
Ans: (c)
Sol: It is explicitly stated in the line ‘One of the luminaries of English literature is William Shakespeare, often hailed as the greatest playwright in the history of the English language.’

Q20: Which of Jane Austen’s novels is known for its social commentary and witty portrayal of romance?
(a) Nineteen Eighty-Four
(b) Sense and Sensibility
(c) “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”
(d) “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”
Ans: (b)
Sol: Jane Austen’s novels, such as Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, provide incisive social commentary through the lens of wit and romance, and this makes it clear that Sense and Sensibility is known for its social commentary and witty portrayal of romance.

Q21: Who are the Romantic poets mentioned in the passage known for celebrating nature and intense human emotions?
(a) William Shakespeare and Virginia Woolf
(b) George Orwell and Samuel Taylor Coleridge
(c) William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge
(d) Jane Austen and Arundhati Roy
Ans: (c)
Sol: The sentence ‘the Romantic era brought forth poets like William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who celebrated the beauty of nature and the emotional intensity of the individual’ corroborates that William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge are the romantic poets mentioned in the passage known for celebrating nature and intense human emotions.

Q22: What is the title of Virginia Woolf’s novel known for its modernist narrative style?
(a) Pride and Prejudice
(b) Nineteen Eighty-Four
(c) Mrs. Dalloway
(d) The God of Small Things
Ans: (c)
Sol: It is clear from the sentence – ‘Virginia Woolf’s ground-breaking novel Mrs. Dalloway explored the inner thoughts and lives of its characters with a modernist narrative style’ that Mrs. Dalloway is the title of Virginia Woolf’s novel known for its modernist narrative style.

Q23: Identify the 20th-century novel mentioned in the passage that provides a warning about the dangers of totalitarianism?
(a) Nineteen Eighty-Four
(b) Romeo and Juliet
(c) Sense and Sensibility
(d) “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”
Ans: (a)
Sol: The statement ‘George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four provided stark warnings about the dangers of totalitarianism and the erosion of individual freedom’ substantiates that Nineteen Eighty-Four is the 20th-century novel mentioned in the passage that provides a warning about the dangers of totalitarianism.

Q24: What does the passage highlight as the enduring power of English literature?
(a) Its ability to win literary awards
(b) The diversity of its authors, themes, and styles
(c) Its ability to captivate and inspire only British readers
(d) The decline of storytelling
Ans: (b)
Sol: The writer establishes that English literature is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the written word. It encompasses an array of authors, themes, and styles that continue to captivate and inspire readers across the world. Thus, the diversity of its authors, themes, and styles is highlighted as the enduring power of English literature.